General view of the Riverside Stadium before the Sky Bet Championship match between Middlesbrough and Hull City at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, England on 18 March 2016. Photo by Mark P Doherty.

Middlesbrough midfielder returns to Italian side after 13 months

General view of the Riverside Stadium before the Sky Bet Championship match between Middlesbrough and Hull City at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, England on 18 March 2016. Photo by Mark P Doherty.

It’s been quite an interesting thirteen months for de Roon. Having signed for the Teessiders in July 2016, the Netherlands international now departs the Riverside having made one appearance so far this season.

De Roon first made the move to Teesside last summer having scored once in 36 appearances in the Serie A during the 2015/16 season. Joining as their third summer signing, expectations were high for the Dutch midfielder as Boro’ prepared for their first season back in England’s top flight after promotion in May 2016.

But de Roon appeared 36 times and scored five goals for Middlesbrough as the Teesside were relegated to the Championship after a year in the Barclays Premier League.

The 26-year-old began his career as a youngster for Feyenoord and then Sparta Rotterdam in the Netherlands before making his debut for the Red & Whites in March 2010. De Roon’s impressive performances over his 58 appearances led to a move to Eredivisie rivals SC Heerenven, with whom he featured almost 100 times while finding the net five times.

Throughout de Roon’s appearances for Heerenveen, the young midfielder continued to display his talent and began to take the label as one of the Netherlands’ most promising young players. With such high expectations, de Roon moved from Heerenveen to Atlanta and, after continuing to impress, the midfielder signed for Middlesbrough under the guidance of Italian Aitor Karanka after Boro’ won promotion to the Premier League.